Storage elevator having multiple shelves

ABSTRACT

Apparatus located in an elevator shaft within a building and including an elevator having multiple storage areas and means for selectively moving the areas to an opening in the wall normally closed by a door. The apparatus includes a reversible motor for moving the elevator in the desired direction when a pushbutton switch is closed.

United States Patent 1,012,240 IZ/Illl ('lurke Walter A. Phillips P.0. Box 3237, Fort Smith, Ark. 72901 826,108

May 20, 1969 Sept. 28, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented STORAGE ELEVATOR HAVING MULTIPLE SHELVES 4 Claims, l0 Drawing Figs.

U.S. CI 187/3, 187/19, 187/1 Int. Cl B66b 9/0() Fleld ul Search 187/3-5, l()

Relerencen (Ilted UNl'lll) S'l'A'l'lS IA'l`lN'l`S 1,031,383 7/1912 Sheehan 187/4 1,636,474 7/1927 Cavalcee. 187/3 1,867,568 7/1932 Hirshfeld.... 187/3 FOREIGN PATENTS 941,336 11/1963 Great Britain 187/3 79,551 12/1918 Switzerland 187/3 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Attorneys-A. Yates Dowell and A. Yates Dowell, Jr.

ABSTRACT: Apparatus located in an elevator shaft within a building and including an elevator having multiple storage arcas and means for selectively moving the areas to an opening in the wall normally closed by a door. The apparatus includes a reversible motor for moving the elevator in the desired direction when a pushbutton switch is closed.

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2. Description of the Prior Art ln the past many efforts have been made to conceal storage areas and to move such areas to a position of availability when desired. However, most of these prior art devices have been structures which have merely been retracted to inaccessible position when not in use and extended into an accessible position when in use. In some eases, such as passenger and freight elevators, a cab has been provided which was movable to various discharge areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a storage elevator having multiple shelves defining storage compartments within multiple storage areas and mounted in an elevator shaft concealed within a building. The elevator shaft has a housing with an opening in a convenient location and such opening normally is closed by an access door. Means is provided for raising and lowering the elevator so that a predetermined storage area can be disposed adjacent to the access opening so that after the door has been opened the material within the storage area is accessible. The means for operating the elevator includes a reversible motor for moving the elevator either up or down in accordance with a selected pushbutton switch mounted adjacent to the access opening.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a storage elevator having a plurality of storage areas which are selectively movable to a predetermined position to afford access to the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for moving the storage elevator either up or down so that the selected area is in alignment with the access area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation with the housing removed and portions broken away for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of F IG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the upper comer of the access door.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front elevation of the elevator cab.

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram of the electrical operating elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continued reference to the drawings, a building 10 has a floor l1 and at least one wall 12. Normally storage area within the building is at a premium because the more storage space there is the less space is available for ordinary use. ln most buildings the more accessible storage areas are reserved for articles which are used frequently and the less accessible areas are reserved for articles which are not used as frequently. In some cases it is necessary that frequently used articles be stored in inaccessible storage areas simply because the lack of space does not permit all of the frequently used articles to be stored in a convenient location.

In the illustrated example, a kitchen is disclosed having a counter 13 with storage cabinets 14 below the same and wall cabinets 15 spaced above the counter. The most accessible place for the storing of articles naturally would be a substantially the level ofthe top ofthe counter.

ln order to provide multiple storage areas which are conveniently accessible substantially at the countertop level, an elevator shaft 18 is provided which extends substantially below and substantially above the floor 1I. lf desired, the elevator shaft 18 can be recessed within the wall l2 or the elevator shaft can be located adjacent to the wall and framed in by a housing I9. The portion of the elevator extending below the floor 11 may be located in either a basement or crawl space, or within a housing 19 on the floor below, and the portion ofthe elevator shaft which extends substantially above the floor ll can extend upwardly into an attic or the lfloor above. In some buildings, particularly buildings which are only one story high, the elevator shaft can extend above the roof20 of the building and can be confined within a dummy chimney 2l.

Within the elevator shaft 18 an elongated, generally rectangular frame structure 25 is provided including front corner posts 26 and 27 and rear corner posts 28 and 29 connected by braces 30. Along each side of the frame structure 25 an angle member 3l is located having an inwardly extending flange 32. The angle member 31 extends substantially the full length of the frame structure 25 and is disposed between the corner posts at each side. Along the yrear of the frame structure 25 and between the rear corner posts 28 and 29, a pair of channel members 33 are provided in spaced generally parallel facing relation with each other, and such channel members extend substantially the full length of the frame structure for a purpose which will be described later. The frame structure 25 generally defines a hollow, open box disposed in a substantially vertical position within the elevator shaft I8.

An elevator car or cab 36 is positioned within the frame structure 25 and is adapted to be selectively raised and lowered therein. The cab 36 includes sidewalls 37 and a rear wall 38 connected together by a top 39. Disposed substantially centrally of the eab 36 are spaced generally parallel upper and lower drawer units 40 and 4l each of which includes upper and lower members 42 and 43 respectively spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate at least one drawer 44 therebetween. The upper and lower members 42 and 43 are fixed to the sidewalls 37 and the rear wall 38 to strengthen the cab 36 and to make the same relatively rigid. V

Above the upper drawer unit 40 and below the lowe drawer unit 4l, a plurality of shelves 45 are located in independently adjustable spaced relation to each other. Each of the shelves is supported in any desired manner, as by brackets 46 adjustably mounted on the sidewalls 37 and if desired, on rear wall 38 as well.

The cab 36 is adapted to be raised and lowered in a manner to be described next, to locate a portion or area of the cab adjacent to an access opening 47 in the housing 19. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the area between the upper and lower drawer units 40 and 41 is fixed and defines a central storage area C for the reception of any desired articles such as pots and pans, dishes, canned food, books, clothing or the like. Since the shelves 45 are independently adjustable, the cab space above the storage area C is divided into overlapping storage areas A and B and the space below the central storage area is divided into overlapping storage areas D and E. The overlapping of the areas A and B and the areas C, D and E insures that the area above each shelf will be accessible from the opening 47 regardless of the positioning of the shelves.

In order to raise and lower the cab 36, a pair of spaced generally parallel racks 48 are located along the exterior surface of each of the sidewalls 37 and extend substantially the full length of the cab 36. A pair of pillow blocks 49 are mounted on the corner posts of the frame structure 25 at each side thereof, and each pair of pillow blocks is adapted to support a shaft or axle 50 on which are mounted a pair of pinion gears 5I. The gears 5l are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the racks 48 and are adapted to mesh with such racks so that when the pinion gears are rotated the cab will be moved up or down depending upon the direction of rotation. ln order to rotate the shafts 50, a motor 52 is. mounted within the housing 19 and exteriorly of the frame structure 25,- and such motor is adapted to drive a gear reduction 53 having a shaft 54 extending from opposite sides thereof. A drive gear S is mounted on one end of the shaft 54 and meshes with one of the pinion gears 5l' so that when the drive gear is driven in one direction the pinion gear which it engages, as well as the other pinion gear on the same shaft, will rotate in an` opposite direction. At the opposite end of the shaft 54 a drive sprocket 56 is fixed, and such sprocket drives a chain 57 extending around a driven sprocket 58 carried by the shaft 54 at the opposite side of the frame structure. Rotation of the driven sprocket 58 will drive the pinion gears on one side of the cab in a direction counter to the rotation of the pinion gears on the other side of such cab.

To guide the cab 36 when it is being raised and lowered by the motor 52, a guide block 6l is provided adjacent the upper and lower ends of the sidewalls 37, and such guide block includes a recessed groove 62 which slidably receives the flange 32 of the angular member 31. Preferably the guide block 61 is constructed of material having a low coefficient of friction, such as nylon, Teflon or the like.

lt is contemplated that the cab 36 when it is fully loaded could support a substantial mass of weight, and in order to relieve the racks 48 and pinion gears 51 of some of the weight, an eye 63 is connected to the top 39 ofthe cab, and such eye is adapted to receive one end of a cable 64. The cable 64 extends upwardly about a pulley 65 mounted on the frame structure 25 and then rearwardly around a second pulley 66 and then downwardly between the channel members 33. The opposite end of the cable 64 is connected to a counterweight 67 which may be of any desired mass and which is guided by the facing channel members 33.

Within the housing 19 of the elevator shaft, access opening 47 is provided at any desired level above the floor 11 although it has been found satisfactory to locate the lower edge of the opening at substantially the same level as the counter 13. A door 71 normally closes the access opening 47; and such door may be mounted on hinges so that it can be swngably opened or, as illustrated, such door can be raised and lowered.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the elevator shaft housing 19 may have inner bulkhead or panel 72 located closely adjacent to the elevator cab 36 to prevent articles on the shelves from rolling forwardly where they could be engaged by portions ofthe frame structure 25 and prevent the cab from moving. The door 7l as illustrated in slidably mounted between the exterior housing 19 and the interior panel 72, and if desired such door may have a wear strip 73 at each side to prevent contact between the movable door and the fixed structure of the frame and panel.

ln order to raise the door, a cable 74 is attached to the upper central portion of the door 71, and such cable extends upwardly over a pulley 75 at the top of the frame structure 25 and then rearwardly over a second pulley 76 and downwardly where the opposite end is connected to a sash weight 77. The weight 77 may be located within a tubular housing 78 if desired. At the bottom of the door 7l a solenoid-operated hook member 79 (FIG. 10) mounted on the frame structure 25 is selectively received within a recess, not shown, in the door 71. Downward movement of the door will cause the hook member 79 to be received within the recess so that the door will be locked until a solenoid 80 is energized to move the hook member 79 from the recess.

With reference to F 1G. l0, a wiring diagram is illustrated for operating the motor S2 to raise and lower the cab 37 as desired. In order to do this, pushbuttons 85-89 have been provided located within a switch housing 90 preferably located at one side of the housing 19 adjacent to the door 71. Each of the pushbuttons has an associated indicator light beside the same to indicate a position of the cab when the cab is not moving as well as to indicate the button which has been pushed. 1n this system, electrical energy is supplied through service lines 91 and 92 and can be controlled by a master switch 93. Electrical energy is supplied from the service lines to a transformer 94 which supplies electrical energy to the elements within the switch housing 90.

Each of the pushbuttons -89 controls a pair of normally closed microswitches connected together in series and connected at one end to an up relay 95 and at the opposite end to a down" relay 96. A normally closed switch 97 is disposed between the microswitches andthe up relay 95, and a normally closed switch 98 is disposed between the microswitches and the down relay 96. The door release solenoid 80 is connected to the electrical system and is adapted to be controlled by a pushbutton switch 100 to release the hook member 79. After the hook member has been released and the door is raised, a door safety switch 101 will be opened to interrupt the flow of electrical energy until the door has again been closed.

When it is desired to move the cab 36, a selected pushbutton is depressed after the door 71 has been closed. Assuming that the cab is located so that area C is disposed adjacent to the access opening 47 and it is desired to have access to the shelves in area A, then pushbutton No. 85 will be operated, Operation of the pushbutton 85 will energize the lamp connected thereto and simultaneously will direct current to the associated microswitches. 1n the illustrated example, the current can flow in only one direction through the switch 97 and the relay 95 since the pair of microswitches at the area C position have been opened. Energizing of the relay 95 will open switch 98 and will close a switch 102 to direct current to the motor 52. When the switch 102 is closed, current can flow through normally closed switches 103 and 104 to energize the auxiliary winding 105 of the motor 52 in one direction and cause such motor to be operated in that direction. Operation of the motor 52 will cause the cab 36 to move until a conventional stop mechanism on the cab engages and opens the pair of microswitches to stop the cab.

When it is desired to move the cab 36 in the other direction, an appropriate pushbutton is operated to carry electrical energy through the relay 96 which opens the switch 97 and simultaneously closes switch 106 on thc motor. Closing of the switch 106 will open switches 103 and 104 and will simultaneously close switches 107 and 108. When the switch 103 is opened, electrical energy is diverted through a line 109 and through the switch 108 to the opposite side of the auxiliary winding 105 to operate the motor in the reverse direction.

ln the operation of the device, the elevator cab 36 may bc divided into any desired number of areas of a size generally corresponding to the size of the access door 71, and cach of such areas is controlled by one of the pushbuttons carried within the switch housing 90. When it is desired to move the cab, the door 7l is closed, which action closes the safety switch 101 and permits one of the pushbuttons 85-89 to be operated. When one of the pushbuttons has been operated the motor 52 will be operated in a desired direction to either raise or lower the cab. Operation of the motor will drive the gear reduction 53 and the pinion gears 51 mounted on shafts 50 at opposite sides of the frame 25, and such pinion gears in turn will drive the racks 48 carried on opposite sides of the cab. When the desired area of the cab reaches the access opening 70, a stop mechanism will open the microswitches controlling that particular area and stop the motor.

lt will be apparent that although the device is illustrated and described as being located in a kitchen, it is contemplated that the device could be located in any desired position and adapted to contain any desired material such as in a library to contain books, in a shop to contain tools and spare parts, in a hallway to contain linens and other bedclothes, or the like.

I claim:

l. A selectively movable storage elevator comprising a frame mounted within an elevator well in a building, an elongated cab having a plurality of shelves defining multiple compartments, said cab movably carried by said frame, motor means for selectively moving said cab in either direction, said elevator well having at least one access opening, door means for selectively closing said access opening, said access opening being substantially smaller than the length of said cab, said cab being divided into a plurality of areas of equal size corresponding generally to the size of the access opening, and means for selectively moving said cab so that only a desired area is disposed in a position adjacent to said access opening, said cab being of such a length that a portion thereof is disposed adjacent to said opening at all times, by operating said motor means each area of said cab can be located adjacent to said access opening to permit objects to be removed from or placed on the shelves of each area of said cab. 

1. A selectively movable storage elevator comprising a frame mounted within an elevator well in a building, an elongated cab having a plurality of shelves defining multiple compartments, said cab movably carried by said frame, motor means for selectively moving said cab in either direction, said elevator well having at least one access opening, door means for selectively closing said access opening, said access opening being substantially smaller than the length of said cab, said cab being divided into a plurality of areas of equal size corresponding generally to the size of the access opening, and means for selectively moving said cab so that only a desired area is disposed in a position adjacent to said access opening, said cab being of such a length that a portion thereof is disposed adjacent to said opening at all times, by operating said motor means each area of said cab can be located adjacent to said access opening to permit objects to be removed from or placed on the shelves of each area of said cab.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said motor means for selectively moving said cab includes a power plant, at least one drive pinion gear driven by said motor, and a rack carried by said cab and engageable with said pinion gear for moving said cab to position a predetermined area adjacent to said access opening.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which said cab includes at least one drawer unit.
 4. The structure of claim 1 in which said plurality of areas are in overlapping relationship with each other. 